Affordable Care Act Model Improves Care and Lowers Costs

The Independence at Home Demonstration, which is affiliated with the Affordable Care Act, is making strides toward providing chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries with primary care services at home and has also lowered Medicare costs, according to CMS.

CMS found that the program saved Medicare approximately $10 million in its second year, or $1,000 per beneficiary. CMS will reward seven participating practices with a total of $5.7 million in incentive payments for their efforts in improving care and reducing costs. The second year of the program involved 15 practices serving more than 10,000 beneficiaries.

The Independence at Home Demonstration beneficiaries saw the following results as part of the program:

• Decrease in emergency room and inpatient hospital services for diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, urinary tract infection, and pneumonia
• Documentation of patient preferences by the provider
• Fewer 30-day readmissions
• Follow-up contact with a provider within 48 hours of hospital admission, discharge, or emergency room visit
• Identification of medication within 48 hours of discharge

Click here to learn more about the Independence at Home Demonstration.